Wednesday (May 17) - Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on his last day as senator delivered a valedictory address thanking his colleagues following the confirmation of his appointment as the next Foreign Affairs Secretary.

The Commission on Appointments (CA) voted to approve the confirmation of Cayetano's post after what members deemed to be "the shortest confirmation hearing of a Cabinet Secretary."

Cayetano then took the floor during session one last time and thanked his fellow senators, as he sought their continuous support in helping the administration fulfill its promise of change.

"I have to say thank you, my colleagues, because I'm a better person - a better debater, a better legislator, a better policymaker - and hopefully, a good diplomat, because we have been working together... working for each other," he said.

"I want to leave you with this covenant. My job in the coming days will be focused on the protection, welfare, and convenience of the OFWs. But you have the job here of creating the Filipino dream, wherein they do not have to go abroad to be able to fulfill their dreams for their family," he added.

Cayetano said he looks forward to continuing to work with Congress in pushing for more efforts to promote the welfare and protection of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), as well as to uphold President Rodrigo Duterte's independent foreign policy.

"If I have the Senate of the Philippines behind me, that'll be a great, great advantage. Please feel free, my dear colleagues, to call on the DFA, any assistance... But we will also need your help. Kakatok din kami sa inyo," he said.

"I don't know the right words, this is not goodbye. Maybe farewell in the meantime. But again, from the bottom of our hearts, maraming maraming salamat sa inyong lahat," Cayetano concluded.